Wrapping machine



Filed Dad. 5. 1951 INVENTOR. Eon Am Z Cap/me! ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 warren sures PATENT OFFICE EDWARD F. CORNOCK, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed December 5, 1931. Serial No. 579,140.

This invention relates to wrapping machines, and although described in detail with respect to the wrapping of cigars in moisture-proof cellophane it finds application in other analogous uses. One object of the invention is to provide mechanism for applying an even coat of a sealing liquid to the outstanding flap of an article. Another object is to provide mechanism for simultaneously folding one flap and applying a sealing liquid to an-opposite flap. Another object is to improve the tensioning of the wrapper around the article. Another ob ject is to provide a flap folding and sealing mechanism which ,will produce a minimum bending ofthe flap after the solvent has been applied and will avoid drawing the fiap around sharp corners, whereby the amount of curl in the folded flap is reduced to a minimum. Another object is to provide a mechanism which produces a wiping action of a wick across the flap being operated upon, in order to apply a thin and even coating of a sealing liquid against the flap. Additional objects will appear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a wrapping machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, together with a detail of the means for operating it;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; a

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details illustrating successive stages in the wrapping operation; and i Fig. 7 is a cross-section'of an article so wrapped.

The invention has been shown as applied to the wrapping in moisture-proof cellophane of cigars on a machine basically similar to that illustrated in the patent to' Grover 1,811,751, June 23, 1931, to which reference may be made for a description of the article forwarding mechanism and theinitial folders. While the Grover machine was intended primarily for handling foil, the present device is concerned with the application to an article such as a cigar of a wrapping material adapted to be secured around the article by a freely flowing sealing liquid. A suitable wrapping material is moisture-proof cellophane, a transparent cellulose sheeting bearing on its surface a thin layer of a compound soluble in organic solvents such as eth ylene glycol monomethyl ether. This substance flows freely and can be transmitted through a wick to the point where it is to be applied to the wrapper.

The wrapping mechanism has been shown somewhat diagrammatically, as the manner in which the initial folders are operated can be followed in detail, if desired, in the Grover patent referred to. The article a, a cigar for example, is fed by a plunger 10 from a pocket in a feed disk 11. In its travel the article contacts with and picks up a sheet of wrapping material which is folded around it in inverted U form by stationary members 12.

a At the upper end of its travel the article and wrapper are grasped by tongs 13 which are mounted on an intermittently rotating turret as described in the Grover patent. A rear bottom folder, indicated generically at 14, isoperated by a bell crank 15 and a cam 16 to fold under the rear flap 0 of the wrapper the plunger 10 meanwhile having recede (Fig. 4) The tongs 13 now move forwardly, carrying the article over a stationary plate 17 Figs. 5 and 6) which folds down the sec ond flap d. As thus far described, the mechanism is generically of a type used in forming opposite folds in many sorts ofwrapping machine. The featureswherein the present invention differs from these machines will now be considered. The body of the folder 14 has a Well 18 formed in it, from which a pluralityv of grooves or passa es 19 lead to the forward ping material is drawn sharply around an folding edge. Wicks 20 are located in these edge, particularly after it has been moistened passages, leading from the well to the front with a sealing liquid, 2. curl will be given to of the folder. The wicks have been shown it which will create a tendency on the part of as spaced apart, but if desired may be merged the flap to peel away from the article. This into a continuous wick extending throughout effect is avoided by the construction shown. the length of the flap. The spaced wicks are What I claim is:

' generally preferable in wrapping such ar- 1. A wrapping machine comprising means ticles as cigars where it is not desired to form for folding a wrapper around an article leava package of absolute hermetic tightnesson ing a flap outstanding therefrom, an abut- 7 iaccount 0f the danger of the cigar becoming ment for supporting said flap, a wick movable mouldy. The front edge of the folder is bevto press the flap against the abutment, means eled off at 21 on its side remote from. the arfor supplying a sealing liquid to the wick, ticle, giving a slanting surface beyond which and means for moving the article relative to the wicks project slightly. A cover plate 22 the wick to' draw the flap over the Wick while overlies the wicks, and preferably has fricthe flap is so pressed against the abutment. tion reducing grooves 23 in its upper face. 2. A wrapping machine comprising means Sealing fluid is supplied to the well through for folding a wrapper around an article leava flexible conduit 24 from a reservoir 25, prefing spaced flaps outstanding therefrom, a

20 erably of the constant level type common in folder movable to fold one of the flaps against oil stoves and the like. The level is set so the article, an abutment for supporting the that the exposed ends of the wicks will be second flap, a wick carried by the folder to moist but will have no tendency to drip. The press the second flap against the abutment, stationary plate 17 is sloped 0d at 26 to cormeans for supplying a sealing liquid to the 25 respond with the bevel 21, and is preferably wick, and means for moving the article relprovided with a plurality of recesses 27 loative to the wick to draw the second flap over cated opposite the wicks 20 so that smearing the wick while said flap is so pressed against of the beveled surface 26 will be avoided in the abutment. case no wrapper is present. 3. A wrapping machine comprising means 30 As the folder 14 advances under the elefor folding a wrapper about an article leavvated article, it folds the flap c underneath ing spaced flaps outstanding therefrom, a the article. As it moves,'the tongs 13 also folder movable to fold one of the flaps against start to move, carrying the article over the the article, said folder having its side away plate 17 so that the second flap d will be from the article beveled, a stationar plate 5 turned well under thearticle as shown in having its side towards the article eveled 4. In this position the wicks contact with to correspond with the beveled side of the the wrapper-near its edge. As the article folder, a Wick carried within the folder and advances further over the plate 17, the flap d projecting from its beveled surface, means will be pulled out from between the wick and r for supplying a sealing liquid to the wick,

40 the plate, causing-a smear of solvent to be and means for moving the article over the applied to the wrapper all the way to its edge. stationary folder.

Further movement of the article (Fig. 6) 4.'A wrapping machine comprising means causes the flap d to be folded over the prefor folding awrapper about an article leav- .viously laid flap 0. The film of solvent will ing spaced flaps outstanding therefrom, a

45 soften the g n the W ng g ng rfolder movable to fold one of the flaps against faces, and as the flaps are held in contact the article, said folder having its side away during the end folding operations, they ad-' from the article beveled, a stationary plate here. If desired, the evaporation of'the solh in it id towards the article beveled vent may be hastened by the application f to correspond with the beveled side of the 60 heat in the l known m folder and having a plurality of recesses 5 The mechanlsm described has several adf d i it b l d u f a l lit f vantageous featuresy PR g p wicks carried by the folder and projecting d dullng the .adVamPQ of the 3111019, thls p from its beveled surface in line with the reis drawn under tenslon around the lower corcesses i th t ti l t means f 55 ner of the article, insuring a tight wrap. The l ing a' ealing liquid to the wick, and means coating of solvent is applied clear to the edge for moving the article over the stationary of the flap, as described above and'in contrast folder. to prior devices in which a slight gap is left- 5. A wrapping machine comprising means between the stripe of sealing liquid and the for folding a wrapper around an article leavedge of the wrapper. Due to the slope of the ing an outstanding flap, means including a surfaces 21, 26,.the pull on the Wrapper is wick and an abutment for grasping the flap approximately in line with its final position, between them and applying a sealing liquid and in the transition from the position of by means of the wick to one side of the flap, Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 the flap is not caused and means for causingrelative motion of the to bend around a sharp corner. If the wrap-- article and said graspmg means to pull the flap from between them substantially without bending, whereby the imparting of curl to the flap is avoided.

6. A wrapping machine comprising means for folding a wrapper around an article leaving a pair of spaced outstanding flaps, means for folding one of said flaps partially to- Wardsthe article, and means for folding the other of the flaps against the article and simultaneously applying a sealing liquid against the inner surface of the partially folded flap.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature.

EDWARD F. CORNOOK. 

